Calendar for August/September 2008

and current notices

CURRENT NOTICES

Why do some illegal immigrants choose to be destitute instead of returning to their home countries?

Because they are afraid.

Why are some illegal immigrants destitute?

Because they were asylum-seekers and they have been refused asylum.

Why were they refused asylum?

Some because they had no legal adviser at their Appeal Tribunal.

Why did they not have a legal adviser?

Because each appeal is subject to a merits’ test that it must be likely to succeed,

and law firms must win 40% of their cases if they are to be re-imbursed by the

Legal Services Commission. The result is that that there are fewer solicitors

and Immigration Advisers willing to take on asylum-seekers as clients.

One way forward may be that of Asylum Justice.

This is a network of professional and lay volunteers offering free legal advice and representation to asylum-seekers, and failed asylum-seekers, who are without access to Legal Aid. The new charity has attracted generous support from active volunteers across South Wales, where the idea has been pioneered: all premises, and many administrative services, are provide free to the charity by supporting organisations in Cardiff, Swansea and Newport – the United Reformed Church, the Salvation Army, the Quakers and the Catholic Church. And the service is provided entirely by volunteers, there are no wage or salary costs. Over 1,000 clients have been assisted since July 2005, when the project was launched, at a cost of less than £15 each, although unit costs are rising as the service develops. Clearly any development in Greater Manchester would evolve in its own way.

The founder of Asylum Justice, Roger Warren Evans, spoke in November to The Oldham Destitution Action Group and others from elsewhere in Greater Manchester. He ran a, free, one day training session (only for practising lawyers) in Leeds in April. Since then Roger has written, ’The task is therefore to persuade a number of motivated practising lawyers to learn enough about asylum law (NOT all Immigration Law) to enable them to help the unrepresented asylum-seeker, also the destitute failed asylum-seeker - that is what the Leeds Seminar was about - the field of asylum law is relatively narrow in legal content, and it is practicable for the motivated practitioner to learn enough to assist.’

Any enquiries about the content of the training to Roger Warren Evans, E roger@warrenevans.net

NEIGHBOURHOOD FRIENDS 2001 - 2004: The project and resources
Neighbourhood Friends set up their scheme, linking volunteers with children in six East Manchester Primary schoools, in 2001
A pack of printed materials has been developed in response to great interest both from other Manchester schools and the Quaker community.
Based on our recent experience, it aims to support other groups in setting up their own similar schemes.
Copies of the pack may be obtained, for the cost of postage and packing from Area Meeting Clerk

                      QUAKER QUEST SPEAKERS’ WORKSHOP  

                                    with Michael Hennessey

        At CENTRAL MANCHESTER Friends Meeting House

             September 4th (Thursday) at 7.15pm  All Welcome

If you have any items you would like to be included in the monthly calendar, please email the event details to corinne.fisher@googlemail.com.

Music and smiles at the Area Garden Party, Sale FMH